The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-29
APPLES. PEARS AND OTHER FRUIT
some of Ny Experiments and Experiences.

some Of My Experiments and Experiences.
By DR. A. scHAFFRAsEK. PALATKA. PA.
No. ".
During my first visit To Florida,
in 1891, and while staying at the Carrie
ton made botanical excursions daily,
commencing with the surroundings of
of the hotel, and happily enough col
lected a good many specimens. amongst
them a variety of the genus "Pyrus,"
which, including the apple as well as
the pear. interested me very much. in
deed. These little shrubs stood near the
schoolhouse. Since that time great inn
provements have been made i'm that Sec
tion of the city: my old botanizing
ground went through a real metamor-
phosis-new houses have been erected.
but the schoolhouse remained. showing
to every visitor that time had changed
neither its beauty nor some peoples love
for such an antiquity. | went there last
year and looked out in vain for the .Py-
rus" and / believe even these little chill
dren of Flora. being ashamed of the
schoolhouse, and not willing To serve
any longer as the only ornament
of this historical relic. disappeared. and
they have done very well. Examining
the exterior of the building more closely,
must say, that the impression made
me feel as sad as the prophet while look
ing at the ruins of Jerusalem. The
windows were broken, and through one
of them thing has been led similar 10 "A
stovepipe, but as tine Teachers Institute
was just i'm session, | thought that said
ornament might be a new invention 10
be used for astronomical observations or
for ventilation, but was mistaken-for
it was a real stovepipe. As there is al
ways some truth in any sentence, we are
convinced even of this saying. THAT the
exterior corresponds with the interior, -
and felt very sorry about those children
who are compelled to receive instruc-
ton and education in such pa,e. For,
as "A nice comfortable home is I'm reality
the half of life for everyone, even so "A
nice comfortable schooIhouse Is neces-
sary to make the children feel home like
and happy. But this masterpiece of
architecture has no attraction whatever,
on the contrary everyone, even the pu-
pills, look at il with disgust and are
ashamed of il. We have a very nice,
comfortable and expensive Jail for those
who violate the law, but for our children,
the hope of the future of our country,
we have the worst schooihouse in the
country. What pity,
Having missed my little Pyrus tree, |
found, however, by my rambles in the
woods, a good many of them ON other
places i'm Palatka's vicinity, namely three
species: Pyrus augustifolia, with sim
pie leaves and depressed fruits. Pyrus
arbutifolia and Pyrus melanocarpa. ais
with single leaves but with glandulous
midrilabove and baccate globose fruits
These three varieties, think. will make
a good stock, when transplanted, for
propagating pears and apples. In the
fall shall set out good many of the
Pyrus ON my hill, and il nothing hap
pens, l will give them "A trial by next
spring.
The general opinion that we could not
raise apples in our latitude needs further
investigation and more and better argu-
ments. Ii is true that the experiment
with late varieties, with so called winter
apples, will always prove a failure, be-
cause they will not only keep their
leaves to the end of January and Febru-
ary, but also, after a short time of rest
will start and come into bloom and are
therefore too late; for the progressing
health and especially the regular dry
weather during the month of May will
not allow any foundation, ON the contra
ry, will produce an exhaustion Of the
vitality of the tree, procreating In
this state a disease more similar
to the consumption of the spinal mar
row than to anything else. Sometimes
death will be caused by scale insect
il uot destroyed i'm time. But If we Sc
lect from year to year three or four
other varieties of the SO called summer
apples, then hope we will find out, finally,
one species that will bloom in the right
time and will produce fruit before the
dry weather sets in. According TO this
opinion l went to work, and two years
ago i set out two varieties of summer
and two varieties of autumn apples,
namely Red Astrachan and Nantahalee,
Buncombe and Equinetelee, while j
added i'm January the following varie-
ties of summer apples, viz: Red June,
Southern Striped June, or Early Red
Margaret, Homony and Washington
Strawberry. Besides the named varie-
ties, ordered one of the Double Fig
Crab. What they will do cannot be said
to-day, but the success | hope for will
be published i'm time.